Karen goes above and beyond for all of her patients, their families, and her peers every day. She is the perfect example of compassionate nursing. The best example of this was when Karen was able to create a good rapport with a very difficult family member of a patient who had been bouncing between the Medical ICU and Medical IMC units since December. Knowing how difficult the family member could be and how much stress it caused her peers, Karen continuously took care of the patient during his last ICU stay. Every day she worked she volunteered to take that assignment. Without complaint and with the best outlook she provided compassionate, high-quality, and patient-centered care for one of the most difficult personalities I have ever met.
Recently I had a severely sick patient who was not doing well. He had just been upgraded to the Medical ICU from the cancer floor due to tachycardia, hypotension, and tachypnea. Without hesitation, Karen was in the room helping me with all of the new orders and tasks associated an admission. Everything from skin assessments, bathing the patient, obtaining blood cultures, to being present during his intubation Karen helped me with it all. Following the intubation, Karen assumed care of my other patient assignment. She didn't ask if I needed it or what should be done in my other room she simply saw the need and stepped up even though she already had two ICU-level patients of her own.
While I fought to keep my other patient alive, Karen effectively managed three ICU patients. A preview of her day included assisting during a bedside shiley HD catheter placement, transesophageal echo and pre-operative workup for dental extractions, and caring for a patient post-AICD placement in the cath lab. All the while she was consistently checking in to make sure that I didn't need a hand. All of this speaks volumes to her caliber as a critical care nurse.